Clasp for dress-shields



(No Model.)

I. P. HURDQ GLA$P FOR DRESS SHIELDS.

Patented Dec. 1, 1896.

INVENTOR WITNESSES BY M AT ORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK F. I-IURl), OF DENVER, COLORADO.

CLASP FOR DRESS-SHIELDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 572,508, dated December 1, 1896.

Application filed December 19, 1895. fierial No. 572,704. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK FARNHAM HURD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Denver, county of Arapahoe, State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Clasps for Dress-Shields; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a simple, convenient, and practical device for fastening dress-shields in the armholes of wo- -l116]1S garments.

To this end my invention consists, brlefiy, of the application of a clasp to the end of the dress-shield, which is thereby clasped over the seam on the inside of the armhole of the garment.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood, Ishall describe in detail the mode in which I construct and use the invention and then point out its novel features in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which the same letters of reference designate like parts in both figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating two clasps'embodying my invention holding a dress-shield in the armhole of a garment. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the clasp detached.

In the drawings, A designates the ordinary seam in the armhole of a womans garment, and B a common form of dress-shield, consisting of crescent-shaped wings O D, united by a seam E and adapted to straddle the seam A at the lower part of the armhole and thereby protect the garment from the eifects of perspiration.

To hold'the shield B in place, I provide a clasp F preferably on each end of the shield B, which clasp consists of two metallic oblong toothed jaws G G, connected at one long edge or side by a hinge-joint H and a spring I, tending to hold the jaws strongly together. In one end of the jaws G G, I form corresponding endwise-opening slots K K, substantially parallel to the hinged edges of the jaws, so that, as shown in Fig. 1, the clasp may be detachably secured to the end of the shield by introducing the end of the clasp with the hinge upward beneath the seam E, uniting the wings of the shield, and then bringing the wings inside and below the clasp through the slots K K. The shield thus equipped is then quickly applied to the armhole of the garment by pulling the wings of the shield apart, so as to open the clasp, and allowing the clasp to close on the seam A of the armhole. In a similar manner the shield can be quickly and easily removed from the garment, The clasps can also be readily removed from the shield at will.

. For greater convenience in opening the clasp for attachment to the shield I have provided a key L, whose head L is at right angles with its shank L so that by inserting the shank L between the clasp-jaws and pinching or pressing the head L parallel with the jaws the clasp can be opened with one hand, leaving the other hand free to manipulate the shield. It is evident, however, that extensions of the clasp-jaws may be provided for opening the clasp, and there are many other ways of accomplishing this object c0nveniently, so that myinvention is independent of any means for the purpose.

I claim as my invention- 1. The clasp for dress-shields herein described as having each of its jaws provided with a slot to receive the respective wings of a dress -sl1ield.

2. The combination with a two winged dress-shield of a clasp, each of whose jaws is provided with means, as a slot, for engaging the respective wings of the shield, and for holding the junction of the wings of the dressshield to the joint of the clasp.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand the 20th day of September, 1895.

FRANK F. HURD.

In presence of--- HENRY A. RUBINo, J. B. PAIGE. 

